Commandant: Soldat Grégoire

Ingénieur : Caporal Le Tonneau

Canonnier : Soldat La Plume

The following is an account of the events that led to the loss of His Most Catholic Majesty, Louis XV’s vessel "Le Général Soule" to British forces on Lac du Saint-Sacrement on Octobre 13, 1754.

The morning of Octobre 13, 1754 dawned clear and crisp with a light breeze from the south. After a long evening of keeping watch with the only excitement the extermination of an enemy canot that ventured into pierrier range, the French forces were ready for a day of action.

After a traditional déjeuner of oignons and guildive the crew of "Le Général Soule" made preliminary preparations for getting underway. We were interrupted by shouts that the English had been spotted coming towards our camp from the south. This call mustered all available forces in that direction. After a short action, during which two soldats of the 55^th Regiment of Foot were killed, the crew resumed preparations to leave.

It was decided that both vessels of the Royal-Roussillon, the "Esprit" and "Le Général Soule", would conduct a movement nord to Île Hazel to determine the location and strength of enemy forces and to look for Lieutenant Aubin of that regiment who’s arrival had been expected the day before.

"Esprit" managed to get underway approximately 10 minutes before "Le Général Soule". Though not realized at the time, the expedition had commenced on the wrong foot. When we finally left the dock "Esprit" was un quart de mile off making reasonable way under sail with a steady southerly breeze carrying her nord. Unfortunately she had caught the last of the breeze and struggle as we would "Le Général Soule" never managed to catch any wind. The unfortunate result was that by the time "Esprit" reached Ïle Hazel "Le Général Soule" was about trois quarts de mile to the sud-sud-ouest.

As we rowed north we noticed "Esprit" fire a shot from her pierrier towards a canot off her bow. Intermittent firing continued for a short time terminating with "Esprit", apparently still catching the wind, slowly entering Île Hazel from the nord.

Now I, as Commander of "Le Général Soule", assumed (Never a good thing to do!) there could be only a few of reasons for the action I’d just witnessed.

Based on the above I assumed (Did I mention assuming isn’t a good thing?) that "Esprit" had landed and Île Hazel was secure.

Having never ventured here before I wasn’t at all familiar with the waters or the lay of the land. So I decided on the shortest course and entered the backside of Île Hazel from the sud channel.

It took about 20 minutes for "Le Général Soule" to get close to the sud entrance. As a standard precaution on approaching land I had soldat La Plume stand by the pierrier and caporal Le Tonneau proceed under easy oars. I must admit that the beauty of my surroundings transfixed me (This wasn’t a good thing either!).

As we came within pistol shot of the tribord shore a fusil rang out and a shout notified me that I was dead. In quick succession Caporal Le Tonneau fired his fusil in the direction of the shot and soldat La Plume fired the pierrier to babord at a target unseen by me. His target became clear at the same instant for enemy fusils and a pierrier fired on us killing my crew and sinking the vessel.

My crew acted in the best traditions of the service and gave as well as they took. The loss of "Le Général Soule" was due entirely to my decisions and an excellent ambush that was established and executed by our foe… Très bien Rangers!

By the way, don’t assume too much.